On Wednesday, Oct. 10, a massive search operation was undertaken in the Malibu Canyon area, in a multi-agency effort to apprehend a suspected burglar. The suspect was apprehended Wednesday evening, followed by a heavily publicized press conference at LASD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
“Earlier today, at about 10 o’clock this morning, Major Crimes personnel, Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station personnel, members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Aero Bureau and members of the Malibu Search and Rescue Team deployed resources in the Malibu Canyon area to conduct a detailed search for the suspect and evidence related to these crimes,” McDonnell described. The California Highway Patrol, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, and other local agencies were also been involved in the search in various capacities.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrested Anthony Rauda in connection with burglaries made in the Malibu Canyon area over the last three months. In a press conference held later the same day, McDonnell said the 42-year-old was taken into custody around 3:20 p.m.
Why such a massive display of force for a burglary suspect? According to numbers from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, 136 burglaries occurred so far this year in Malibu (January through September). The answer likely comes from heightened tension in the area following the June 22 murder of Tristan Beaudette at Malibu Creek State Park. Campgrounds at the park have remained closed since the shooting, as California State Parks officials have worked to better secure the area.
McDonnell did not confirm Rauda was a suspect in the murder.
“Homicide is working closely with the rest of the team,” the sheriff said when asked about whether Rauda may have a connection.
California Senator Henry Stern, also at the conference, said, “… much of that area has been on pins and needles since we learned about these series of burglaries and I think that residents in the community can rest a bit easier tonight.”
“This is not easy country. These are steep ravines, complicated territory and what looks like a very complicated suspect here,” he later added.
When asked about Pepperdine University’s announcement advising students to avoid the state park as a safety precaution, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Captain Josh Thai confirmed the area was safe, and said the station is doing “proactive patrol in the area with State Parks.”
Last week, California State Parks Angeles District Superintendent Craig Sap told The Malibu Times the district was considering upping security through the use of cameras and increased internet connectivity in the Malibu area.
“I think the community still should call us if they see anything that is out of the ordinary or something worth for us to look at,” Thai said.
According to McDonnell, Rauda may have been connected to similar burglaries that took place over the last two years.
The recent burglaries in question date back to at least August. According to a statement released by the sheriff’s department Tuesday night, the burglaries took place in unincorporated areas of Malibu and Calabasas, near Malibu Canyon. McDonnell said food items were stolen during the incidents, and typically occurred between 2 and 5 a.m.
The LASD Major Crimes Bureau and Metro Detail took point on the investigation on Oct. 4. As for last Wednesday’s operation, he said, “Detectives developed an investigative plan after reviewing key evidence, including a video depicting the suspect in one of the recent burglaries.”
The officials pinpointed a specific area of Malibu Canyon, following a previous manhunt in the area on Saturday, Oct. 6.
They were able to find fresh boot prints in the ground and followed the prints for approximately 50 yards, where they spotted Rauda, described as a “male adult wearing black clothing walking quickly, who resembled the suspect in the burglaries,” in heavy brush near a steep ravine—the location approximately one mile north of Mulholland Highway and west of Las Virgenes Road.
He was armed with a rifle at the time.
After a tense encounter, Rauda surrendered without incident and was taken into custody to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
Per McDonnell, he is being booked, in part, for parole violation. Rauda has a previous history of weapons violations and burglaries.
